Kostoglotov - Louis Althusser knows why my heart is asunder

London-based knob-twiddler, Dalston clubnight maven and (full disclosure) Soundblab contributor Kostoglotov aka Daryl Worthington gained some exposure last year with a plethora of releases. He kicks off 2013 with this new one on Liminal Noise Tapes. Divided into two long pieces of music, each one split into three sections, Louis Althusser knows why my heart is asunderis, as its title suggests, inspired by the life of post-modern Marxist philosopher Louis Althusser, although I don't think you necessarily need to know that to enjoy the music.

'Side A', then, begins with twinkling, utopian synths and warm washes, very much in the vein of Vangelis, and stays like this for a good few minutes before some unsettling rhythms emerge, leading to a new section where desolate pads underpin an echoing siren-sound. Kostoglotov expertly builds the music here, layering textures to maximise both an emotional depth and a sense of a wide, barren space. After the flat emptiness comes what sounds like a brief evocation of a busy city-scape, which in turn gives way to a longer final section of recurring chimes and burbling synths, recalling Cluster at their most pastoral.

'Side B' continues this bucolic theme, beginning with airy, vapour trail synths chuntering along in a blue sky. Here, the music unwinds and builds slowly, again adding textures in the style of Tangerine Dream at their most 70s kosmische. Eventually, this falls away as the music moves into a sparser, stiller phase, with only minimal, clict thking beats to give a sense of movement. The following section, however, feels as though it begins almost arbitrarily, with no build-up. It's the one time Kostoglotov's production skills seem to fall short. That said, the music itself remains lovely, so it's not a huge deal.

Overall, the music on 'Side B' is cinematic, widescreen, with a travelogue feel that recalls Dam Mantle. It feels like a sincere attempt to filter some 70s progressive influences through a modern lens and in this it succeeds.Louis Althusser knows why my heart is asundercould maybe do with a few more peaks and troughs throughout, but 'Side A' is a never less than interesting listen while 'Side B' is simply gorgeous. Definitely an artist worth keeping an eye on.